Report on environmental chemicals released

AORN Journal,  April, 2003  

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The largest, most extensive assessment of the US population's exposure to environmental chemicals has been released, according to a Jan 31, 2003, news release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The second National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals presents exposure information for 116 environmental chemicals measured in blood and urine samples. Specimens were taken from people representative of the US population in 1999 and 2000. The first report measured chemical exposure from 1991 to 1994.

Information in the report indicates that blood lead levels are declining in children, and adults' exposure to environmental tobacco smoke also is declining. Other information contained in the report will help public health physicians and scientists identify and prevent health problems from chemical exposure.

New data allowed CDC scientists to estimate the number of children ages one to five with elevated blood lead levels. For 1999 to 2000, 2.2% of children in this age group had elevated blood lead levels, which is a decrease from 4.4% for the 1991 to 1994 time period. Although this decrease is positive, scientists warn that children's exposure to lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust, primarily in older homes, still is a public health concern.

Cotinine (ie, detoxication product of nicotine) levels for nonsmokers decreased 58% for children, 55% for adolescents, and 75% for adults since the 1991 to 1994 study. This decrease shows that public health efforts in the 1990s to reduce environmental tobacco smoke were effective. Scientists warn, however, that efforts to reduce exposure that are aimed specifically at children, adolescents, and African Americans still are warranted.

The report also presents data for many other chemicals, including mercury, uranium, cadmium, thallium, and other metals; phthalates; organochlorine pesticides, herbicides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; carbamate insecticides; and organophosphate pesticides and phytoestrogens. The report and executive summary can be found at http://www .cdc.gov/exposurereport.

CDC Releases Most Extensive Assessment Ever of Americans' Exposure to Environmental Chemicals (news release, Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Jon 31, 2003) http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/ media/pressrel/r030131.htm (accessed 10 Feb 2003).

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